What Sort of Pictures Does Tim Donaghy Have of David Stern?

A few days ago, I came across this article and wondered whatever happened to Tim Donaghy’s April 18, 2008, court date?Oh, I suppose it is today.I wonder where the reports will be?Will they be on nba.com’s front page?Why has David Stern been silent?Is it the “ongoing investigation”?

More importantly, how much of this will come out during the playoffs?

Don’t the fans want to know that the playoff games are being officiated without the undue influence of sports betting?We all know there will be bad calls, but we can live with incompetence.We just cannot live with underhandedness.

Remember when Stern suspended Joey Crawford for ejecting Tim Duncan for laughing?Yeah, a few nights ago Raja Bell was thrown out for laughing, too.Kevin Fehr was not publicly flogged for the injustice.

Was it different?I don’t know.Maybe.Why no explanation?

Look, it’s not about the officiating.It’s about the manner in which the officials are reviewed and the public is informed.Suns’ fans are not any more upset about bad calls during the game than any other fan.Suns’ fans are upset about the “wizard behind the curtain” and his failure to deliver on his promise of transparency.

No one thinks there is a conspiracy theory to get the Sp*rs more TV-time (although, Stern does like the “international” demographic and the Sp*rs have quite a few players born outside the continental ), but there is general discouragement about the haphazard enforcement of “bright line” rules.Do not ever forget that.Most importantly, don’t complain to me that basketball is not fun anymore.The Suns tried to make it fun, but Stern would not let them.